cpr 101

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cpr for adults and children

How to Perform CPR on an Adult
Click here for video demo of adult CPR, courtesy of University of Washington School of Medicine.

1. Tilt the head back and lift the chin toward the sky—this provides a straight pathway for your breathing. Look, listen, and feel for normal breathing. If the person is breathing, do not perform CPR. If the person is not breathing, call 911 and retrieve an AED (if available). Begin CPR and use the AED when appropriate (there are instructions on the AED).

2. Pinch the nose and cover the victim's mouth with your mouth. Give two breaths.

3. Position hands in center of chest at nipple level, directly over sternum.

4. Rescuers should push hard, push fast (rate of 100 compressions per minute), to allow complete chest recoil between compressions and to minimize interruptions in compressions. Firmly push down 2 inches on the chest 30 times.

5. Continue with two breaths, followed by 30 chest compressions, and use an AED as soon as it is available. Continue until help arrives.

CPR for Children
Click here for video demo of child CPR, courtesy of University of Washington School of Medicine.

Giving CPR to children is the same as for adults, except you may need to use just one hand instead of two (as in the adult process) to compress the child’s chest to one-third to one-half its depth. Finally, if you are alone, perform CPR for two minutes before calling 911.